The Shadow That Follows

Jessica ran. She wasn’t reckless about it, reckless people got caught. She wove through the narrow medieval streets, keeping to the shadows where the old city walls swallowed the afternoon light. Her heartbeat was steady, but her mind was racing.

She could hear the footsteps behind her. They were not panicked, nor disorganized. They were trained. Whoever was after her, they weren’t street-level thugs. They were professionals.

Jessica veered left, cutting through an alley lined with stone terraces, the scent of baking bread thick in the air. She glanced back to see two men, moving fast. They weren’t hesitating anymore. They knew exactly who they were chasing. And that meant she couldn’t let them catch her.

Pont Saint-Bénézet loomed ahead, its old stone arches stretching into the river. Jessica could hear the Rhône below, water moving fast with the late autumn rains. She kept moving, keeping her pace even, blending in with the slow-moving clusters of tourists.

She could feel it now, the city watching her. Avignon had always been a city of secrets. The popes had fled here in the 14th century, leaving Rome behind to build a fortress for themselves. And even after they left, their ghosts had never really faded.

She wasn’t sure if she was running from the past, or deeper into it. But this much was clear: it wasn’t only her name written in those ledgers. There were others. And if they caught her, it wouldn’t just be about stopping her, it would be about unlocking what she carried, what she didn’t even remember.

She reached the edge of the Rhône, the wind cool and sharp against her skin. The old bridge jutted out into the river, ending halfway, a relic of the past, no longer crossing to the other side.

Jessica glanced back. The men were closing in. She had two choices. She could turn and fight, but there were too many of them. Or, she could take a risk.

Jessica exhaled sharply. Then, without hesitating, she sprinted onto the bridge.

The moment she hit the halfway point, she heard the shout. A sharp, urgent bark of “Arrêtez-la!”

They were done chasing. Now, they were moving in. Jessica reached the edge of the ruined bridge. The water below churned, dark and fast. She’d jumped before, trusted rivers to save her. But this time felt different. They weren’t chasing her life. They were chasing her memory. And she couldn’t let them catch either.

She turned just in time to see the first man reach her. Dark jacket. Sharp movements. A professional. Jessica met his gaze. He didn’t look angry. He looked calm. Like he had already won.

Jessica smirked faintly. “Not today.” Then, she stepped back. And let herself fall.

The Rhône hit like a punch. Jessica plunged beneath the surface, the cold tearing the breath from her lungs. She forced herself to move with the current, not against it. Fighting the river would kill her faster than her pursuers ever could.

The moment her head broke the surface, she sucked in air and scanned the banks. She had to get out before they moved ahead and boxed her in. She angled herself toward a quiet stretch of the embankment, half-hidden by reeds and stone.

Her limbs burned as she pulled herself out, dripping, shivering, but still breathing. Still free.

The men hadn’t tried to kill her. Not yet. They were testing how far she’d run, what she’d protect, what she might reveal. This was never about the chase. It was about the ledger, the names, the fragments of lives that weren’t hers alone. It was about the memories they thought she might still hold. And that made her more dangerous than any secret buried in the archives.

* * *

By the time Jessica made it back into the city, the sun was dipping low. Her clothes were still damp, her body still aching from the river. She pulled up the hood of her jacket and kept moving.

She had bought herself time. But not much. The men who had chased her weren’t done. They had been too controlled. Too professional. And that meant this wasn’t over. Not even close.

She reached for her phone. One missed call from Leanna. Jessica exhaled. Then, finally, she dialed back. Leanna picked up instantly.

Jessica barely had time to speak before Leanna’s voice cut through the line.

“Where are you?”

Jessica let out a breath. “Alive.”

Leanna exhaled. “That’s a start.”

Jessica smirked faintly. “Tell me you have a plan.”

Leanna’s voice was sharp. Focused. “We have a meeting.”

Jessica’s stomach tightened. “With who?”

She paused for a moment. “Someone who knows exactly what we’re up against.”

Jessica closed her eyes. She had survived the river. Now, it was time to step back into the fire.